Lady Elliot Island

Lady Elliot Island, a coral cay, is the first island on the southern tip of the Great Barrier Reef, approximately 80kms north east of Bundaberg off the Queensland coast where you can swim, snorkel, dive directly off the beach.  Lady Elliot has a resort which, although not luxurious, is good all-round value and less affected by the December-April wet season than some more northerly islands.
Lady Elliot Island operates regular scenic charter flights every day from Bundaberg and Hervey Bay (luggage limit 10 kilos per person) and there are air links from Brisbane and other major cities to both towns, plus a fast Tilt Train link between Brisbane and Bundaberg.  Hervey Bay is just over three hours drive north of Brisbane via the Bruce Highway and secure vehicle storage is available there.

Heron Island

Heron Island is a coral cay in the southern section of the Reef, 70 km north east of Gladstone. Roughly two thirds of the island is part of the Whitsunday Islands National Park and there is a resort with good quality accommodation and also a research station in the other third. Heron is an important breeding ground for sea birds which can be seen in profusion between November and March. At the same time of year, turtles (the object of some of the research) lay their eggs here, too.  For more details visit Whitsunday Islands National Park www.epa.qld.gov.au/projects/park(Whitsundays). 
Like many other islands in the area, Heron has excellent opportunities for snorkelling and diving.
Heron is about a 45 minute boat trip from nearby Wilson Island (see below), an unspoiled tiny coral cay with accommodation offered in upmarket permanent safari tents. The operators of Heron Island resort package nights at Wilson with a visit to Heron and provide transfers.
There are launch and helicopter transfers from Gladstone to Heron Island

Wilson Island

Wilson Island is a tiny coral cay accessed by boat from Heron Island and is part of the Whitsunday Islands National Park www.epa.qld.gov.au/projects/park(Whitsundays).
The island has beautiful white beaches and like Heron is an important breeding ground for birds and turtles. It is a part of the reef and also surrounded by it.
Accommodation on Wilson is in upmarket, permanent safari tents. Wilson Island is accessed via Heron Island. The remote coral cay is located 8 nautical miles from Heron Island (approximately 45 minutes by boat). 

Keppel Islands including Great Keppel

There are 18 islands in the Keppel Group, the best known being Great Keppel Island.  Access to all the islands is from Rosslyn Bay, 8 km south of Yeppoon near Rockhampton.
GREAT KEPPEL ISLAND is about 1450 hectares and is ringed by 17 white sandy beaches, coves and pockets of fringing reef and is 13 km from the mainland. The island offers resort hotel and other accommodation, restaurants, cafes and entertainment and ferries and cruises leave from Rosslyn Bay for the 30 minute crossing.